re: Sharpening

I’m struggling with my sharpening. I use the ‘scary-sharp’ (sandpaper) method, and get to a 2,000 grit (and a near-mirror finish); however, my plane is an old Stanley (#4) and I need to get to probably 8,000 grit. I’ve given-up on water stones (keeping them flat eludes me); the Tormek got me about as far as I am now with the scary-sharp. My next adventure is into stropping and diamond paste. As you can tell, I’m grasping at straws.
MJCD